PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTER A Winnipeg MP says he has a plan to eliminate trans-fatty acids -- manufactured oils that have been called a "secret killer" -- from the Canadian food supply. New Democrat MP Pat Martin will introduce a private member's bill in Parliament today that would limit trans fats to no more than 2 per cent of total fats in processed food, a de facto ban. "It's quite simple and straightforward: We don't need this poison in our food supply," Mr. Martin said yesterday. "Labelling isn't enough. We need to get trans fats out of our food altogether." The proposed legislation is identical to a law that is currently on the books in Denmark. Mr. Martin's private member's bill would give manufacturers two years to phase out their use of trans fats and find healthier alternatives. Canadians are the world's biggest consumers of trans-fatty acids, ingesting about 10 grams a day on average. Research has shown that eating as little as one gram of trans fats daily can increase the risk of heart disease by 20 per cent. Bruce Holub, a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph and a leading expert on trans fats, said the legislation is a good idea because these oils pose a health hazard in the quantities they are being consumed by Canadians. The researcher said that while trace amounts of trans fats are naturally occurring in products such as beef, eggs and milk, the vast majority are the result of food processing. Trans fats are added to foods to extend their shelf life and improve their texture. Trans fats, also known as hydrogenated vegetable oil, are found in many snacks, processed foods and fast foods, ranging from microwave popcorn to frozen waffles to McDonald's hamburgers. Lab tests commissioned by The Globe and Mail and CTV News found high levels in many popular children's snacks and in a broad range of fast foods. Mr. Martin, who has launched a petition drive calling for a ban on trans fats, drafted his private member's bill after being rebuffed by the Liberal government. The Health Minister said that Canada's approach was to promote accurate, science-based food labelling and let consumers decide. New labelling laws that, among other things, will make it mandatory to reveal the trans-fat content of foods, take effect in January of 2006. The rules apply only to packaged foods, and exempt fast food, restaurant food, meat and poultry and baby food. "That approach is a cop-out," Mr. Martin said. "It's irresponsible to not take concrete steps now to get trans fats out of the Canadian diet." Today, members of Parliament will also debate another controversial private member's bill related to food. Bill C-398 would make it mandatory for fast-food restaurants to post caloric information next to prices on their menu boards. It would also oblige restaurant chains that have printed menus to go further, disclosing calories per serving and the amount of saturated fats, trans fats and sodium.
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